new boots

hello everybody
i'm looking for a new pair of boots.I live crete greece and the mountains here are prety rock and because of my work i walk of trail.Now i have a La sportiva (val di fiemme) which is a light and very strong.I 'm happy with it but now i'm looking for something new. More winter boot for a little walking to the snow also with rubber around (it's a must here),lightweight, totaly waterproof.i 've seen some kayland's boot (globo)and the la sportiva trango s gtx. what's your opinion of that new technology boots
(trango s, kayland mtx).Also i would like this boot to be suitable for some treks in the himalaya like the annapurna cirkuit and others in altitude no more than 5200m more or less

thank you

Hey i've just got a quick question. and i dont mean to sound rude in any way, but why are boots so necessary? i use tennis shoes. they are alot lighter and dry faster. it may lack some ankle support but just be careful. can i get some undestanding? thanx

Hiking in tennis shoes is great, but after several ambitous, (fairly lightweight) backpacking trips of a few days, I worried that my ankles swelled wearing tennis shoes, perhaps (?) to a greater extent than had I been wearing shoes with more support.

(This was when I was about 40, or late thirties. Similar trips in my teens and twenties with such crappy footwear, resulted in NO concerns at all.)

Swelling may be sign of inflammation, which may, eventually, contribute to arthritis. (Or so I do continue to worry, with little or no evidence, at nearly age 52).

More recently I've favored low-cut footwear, with a much more rigid sole than tennis shoes, for moderate backpacking. Definitely I hope some day, to play more tennis.

Also recently, for select, smooth and clear, limited stretches, I've also used fairly cheap, light sandals, while carrying ankle-high boots for mountaineering.

BTW nasty mountaineering boots, recently, have been also subject to lighter technology, and also available are some newly interesting ankle-high lighter weight trail shoes.
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Thread jacked. Sorry Original Poster... check the gear review section link at the top of the page for info on what you want and what others think about a particular boot.

JoshG, just ponder the thought of breaking your ankle on a rock scramble...in a tennis shoe... solo...15 miles into the backcountry. Tennis shoes sure are more comfortable but when you are doing some serious treking safty is probably just a wee bit more important than comfort.

thanx guys. i see how this could turn out to be a serious issue. i appreciate it.

happy new year to everyone.
i would like some suggestions to my quetions because all
the replies aren't helpful

Since you are in Europe,I suggest looking online at Asolo, Raichle or Scarpa. I have two pair of Asolo boots and like them very much. My old pair is full leather and still is in fairly good shape after months of hiking in New Zealand years ago. My newer pair is too new to give an opinion, but it has the rubber on it around the rand.

La Sportiva makes excellent boots, as do Asolo, Raichle, and Scarpa. My most recent pair of boots is a La Sportiva, which I used for hiking up Kilimanjaro a couple weeks ago. I prefer all-leather boots for the kind of use you specified, because they breathe better than Goretex (which the Trango you ask about uses). But some people like the newer Goretex and eVent lined boots. However, for the purpose you describe, the Trango seems a bit of over-kill. It really is intended for a lot of use with crampons on more technical ice, not for a Himalayan trek, or even a winter hike through the Alps. If you were doing approaches to Alpine routes, then it would be more suitable.

I should note that the model names for boots sold in Europe by the European makers like La Sportiva, Asolo, Raichle, and Scarpa (I have had boots by all these), often differ from the ones sold in the US, and sometimes the boots with the same model name are different. So I would actually advise you to go to a good boot fitter in your local area. I am not familiar with Crete, but know that in the areas I have been (like in the Dolomites a couple months ago, or Chamonix and Lyon in France a few years back), there are excellent bootfitters, some in the small towns close to the climbing areas. These can advise you far better on your needs than anyone on a US website several thousand kilometers from your area.

My only advice is to try on many different brands as the difference in fit from one brand to another can be amazing. I had a recent experience comparing Lowa to Asolo. The right boot of the Lowa fit fine, the left boot did not, I've never had that happen before. With the Asolo both feet fit the same. Stick with better quality brands and then buy the pair that fits the best.